WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.2.2 Estonia
European Small Hydropower Association, Stream Map
Key facts
Population 1,274,709 1
Area 45,228 km 2
Climate Maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool
summers 1
Topography Marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly
in the south 1
Rain
pattern
Electricity sector overview
Electricity production in Estonia is concentrated on oil
shale (89.25 per cent in 2011, figure 1). 3 In 2007, only
1.75 per cent of gross consumption of the country was
covered by renewable energy. 4 By 2011, it was 10.75
per cent. 3 The electricity market is scheduled to open
up in January 2013 and the price will be determined by a
market system based on the competition of several
electricity sellers. 5 Estonia both imports and exports
electricity to Latvia and Lithuania, but only imports
electricity from Finland. 6
Renew able
10.75%
energy
Thermal
89.25%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Estonia
Source: Statistics Estonia 3
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
SHP installed
capacity
SHP potential
The annual average precipitation varies
between 550 mm and 800 mm. As a rule,
the coastal zone receives less rainfall than
the inland areas. Areas with the highest
precipitation are located on the uplands
and at a distance of 30–60 km from the
western coast. 2
8 MW
9 MW
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Estonia
In 2010, Estonia had 47 small hydropower plants and a
total installed capacity of 8 MW (generating 30 GWh per
year). A marginal role is designated for small
hydropower within the energy supply. By 2020, the aim
is to have 55 plants with a total installed capacity of 9
MW (generating 33 GWh). 7
Renewable energy policy
According to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan
(NREAP), Estonia’s target for 2020 is a 25-per cent share
of energy from renewable energy sources in gross final
energy consumption. 8 In Estonia, access of renewable
energy systems to the grid is a subject of general
legislation on electricity and so far it has not been legally
encouraged. On the other hand, system operators are
entitled to connect their systems to the grid according
to non-discriminatory criteria and the grid operator is
obliged to upgrade the network if it is necessary to
connect a plant to the grid. The costs of such an upgrade
are borne by the operator of the system in question. 7
Legislation on small hydropower
A support scheme exists as a feed-in tariff (FIT) or a
fixed premium (in addition to the electricity price) that
the utility is legally obligated to pay. The FIT is
€73.39/MWh and the fixed premium is €53.61/MWh of
electricity sold to the grid. These rates are valid for 12
years from commissioning a plant. 7
Barriers to small hydropower development
Residual flow values are fixed in the water use licensing
procedure and are set on the 95 per cent fraction of the
flow duration curve. In addition, fishways are often
requested. 7 The EU Water Framework Directive has had
some impact on small hydropower. A list of
watercourses (112 rivers or their reaches) with dams
that are preventing the migration of fish has been
introduced which will adversely affect small hydropower
potential. With regard to environmental impact
mitigation measures, the conventional measures are fish
passage construction for migrating fish watercourses. In
general, public support and social acceptance of small
hydropower can be described as positive. 7
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook: Estonia. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/.
2. Estonica – Encyclopedia of Estonia (n.d.). Climate.
Available from
www.estonica.org/en/Nature/Location_and_natural_co
nditions/Climate/ Accessed November 2012.
3. Statistics Estonia (2012). Electricity generated from
renewable sources. Available from www.stat.ee/57213.
4. Estonian ministry of Economic Affairs and
Communication (2008). Development Plan of the
Estonian Electricity Sector until 2018. Available from
www.mkm.ee/public/ELMAK_EN.pdf.
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